The Kinshasa regime has continued to usurp the Extended Joint Verification Mechanisms (EJVM) and the East African Community ad-hoc verification mechanism instead of starting to implement what they are obligated to by the Luanda and Nairobi peace roadmaps.
While the regional peace roadmaps clearly spell out the actions and behavior responsibilities of all protagonists in the conflict in the east of DRC, only the M23 Movement has complied so far, by implementing a systematic and coordinated withdrawal as stipulated by the roadmaps.
Instead of commencing to implement their part of the bargain, the Kinshasa regime continues to pay lip service and demonstrate their contempt for the peace regional peace initiative. First and foremost, the FARDC has continued to enhance its alliance with terrorist armed groups like FDLR, Maimai, CODECO, PARECO APCLS Nyatura, and mercenaries.
To make matters even worse, they have since formed more armed groups on top of the more than 200, that they have christened ‘auto defense’ groups. Such groups include notorious groups like the Wazalendo group which has continued to intensify attacks against the EACRF and the M23 to frustrate the smooth withdrawal of the latter.
Instead of implementing the regional roadmap, the Kinshasa regime continues to make wild claims about the M23 Movement’s withdrawal, even though the East African Community Regional Force and the verification teams have issued satisfactory reports to the EAC and regional leaders.
What the Kinshasa regime must be compelled to do, as stipulated in the regional peace mechanism, is to divorce the armed foreign groups like FDLR and the local terror outfits they sponsor, to allow the EACRF to start implementing the second phase of disarming and demobilizing them.
Also, by maintaining a belligerent stance about dialogue with the M23 Movement, the Kinshasa regime makes it clear that peace is not their objective. The Kinshasa ruler must be constantly kept in line if the regional initiative that aims to bring lasting peace is to succeed.